By Scott Wong

Joseph Karpanty doesn’t profess to be much of a preacher, but said he believes recreational programs break down barriers.

Karpanty, 37, was named Los Altos Hills’ first Parks and Recreation Coordinator Sept. 3, and heads the newly created Parks and Recreation Department. He assumes responsibilities previously performed by a handful of dedicated volunteers.

Through recreational programs, the community becomes an extension of the family, regardless of race or religious beliefs, said Karpanty, a Millbrae resident who grew up “on the other side of the tracks” in New York City’s housing projects.

“Recreation breaks down stereotypical barriers and preconceptions people may have had of others,” he said.

Karpanty also acknowledges his responsibility as an educator. “Many people believe recreation is a luxury.” he said.

“Part of my job is to educate them why it is a necessity.”

Town recreation programs will focus on children, according to Karpanty, who said his primary goal is to expand children’s activities, not just in number but in variety.

“Parents will benefit because they’ll see the programs we’ve put in place,” Karpanty said. “We’ll please the children and the parents will follow.”

But some parents have had to lead in recent years.

Rebecca Hickman and Patty Radlo, co-chairs of the Parks and Recreation Committee, first conceived Los Altos Hills children’s programs in 1999 when they realized the difficulties of moving their children through endless waitlists and into recreation programs of other cities.

Three summers later, with the help of numerous volunteers and the support of local organizations, the program offered educational, horseback riding and sports camps with more than 200 participants.

The Ohlone Camp, which began in the summer of 2000, focuses on local wildlife and teaches children, through hands-on activities, the ways of the native Ohlone people.

“Our goal was to make children aware of their surroundings and things already existing in their community,” Hickman said.

The Westwind Barn Horse Camp, created in 2001, provides introductory riding classes to children with horses donated by the Westwind Riding Institute, which offers lessons for children with disabilities. And this year, the Skyhawks and Mini-Hawks Sports Camps were offered through five different sports programs.

But before the city council would grant the committee a full-time coordinator, it required evidence that these were successful programs, Hickman said.

“All (camps) sold out every year,” he said. “We had to prove that it wasn’t an aberration, that we could do it year after year.”

Town councilwoman Emily Cheng, the committee liaison to the town council, said the hiring of a coordinator was in response to a demand from the community.

“In the beginning we didn’t have many programs, so we didn’t need a full-time employee,” she said. “The department has grown to a point where we need a coordinator.”

Most recently, Karpanty served as a recreation specialist and ran summer camps in Belmont and Millbrae, but said his earliest encounter with recreation programs came at the age of 10. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, Karpanty met the right people, YMCA counselors, who guided him through a “challenging childhood.”

“I was a wild kid,” he said. “But somebody other than my family had an interest in what I had to say and that left an indelible mark.”

“Because that gift was given to me, I want to give it back,” Karpanty added.

Hickman said she’s pleased the programs have reached a point where they can grow further.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, and now I think it’s time we hand it off to the town,” she said.